Public to have their say on wave of new homes in Cornish town
Some residents are already saying its reached 'saturation point'
The public will have the chance to discuss plans for hundreds of new houses in a Cornish town next week.
An outline planning application has been submitted by Persimmon Homes to build up to 325 homes at the southern end of St Austell.
The proposed development by one of the UK's largest residential property developers would be built on just over 20 hectares of land near Gewans Farm, Tregorrick Road, Tregorrick.
Pentewan Valley Parish Council is holding an extraordinary meeting at St Austell Rugby Club, on Thursday, May 21 from 7pm where residents will be able to discuss the application. The parish council will then debate the matter and vote to support or object to the proposal.
A handful of objections have already been made against the application in the four days since it appeared on Cornwall Council's planning portal.
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Concerns include its scale, a single access point via Tregorrick Road for hundreds of news residents, a lack of local infrastructure to support those families, an increase in traffic and the loss of fields.
"Our town has expanded beyond recognition to the detriment of us all and this must stop. We are at saturation point. Nothing can cope with any further expansion.
"We have little green land left which is a great loss to not only the people but the animals and environment which people have loved for generations in this part of the country," wrote a resident, who lives next door to the application site.
If approved, the homes will be built as part of a development which will be known as Tu Soth - Cornish for 'south side', referring to the relationship it has with St Austell to the north. The properties will range from apartments to four-bed homes.
A quarter of the homes are described as affordable housing. The precise affordable housing mix and tenure split will be established at the detailed design stage.
The application also includes preparatory works and demolition of an existing farm house at Higher Tregorrick Farm, associated landscaping and public realm work, other open space including parks, amenity green space, natural and semi-natural green spaces, children's play spaces. Internal access roads would also be built.
A design statement says: "The development will provide a mix of homes for families, first-time buyers and those looking to downsize, along with new community amenities, green spaces and significant investment into local infrastructure.
"Tu Soth will be a new community that responds to its context by improving local connections, enhancing natural capital and celebrating locally distinctive character of St Austell."
For more details, see planning application PA26/02774.
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